Economic Transformations

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Transcript of Economic Transformations

Economic TransformationsCommerce and ConsequenceEuropeans and Asian CommerceSilver and Global CommerceThe World Hunt: Fur in Global Commerce

How It began:Europeans were desperate for slaves to do their workPortuguese mariners found available slaves for sale of West African coastEuropeans transported them because they were good in the field and were immune to most European disease; whereas, Native Americans were dying.African sellers needed money themselves; therefore, a deal was made.(African sellers sought European textiles, cowrie shells, metal goods, gunpowder and fire arms, tobacco and alcohol, and decorative items.)

Commerce in People: The Atlantic Slave TradeVideo-beavers, rabbits, sable, marten, and deer-provided warmth-showed status in the colder regions of the world -By the 1500s, European population growth and agriculture sharply lowered supply of fur bearing animals-cooling era (Little Ice Age) made demand for fur greater-made fur prices go up- strong economic incentives for European traders

Lasting Impacts:Connected the world in a more globalized wayDeveloped many new people to make their lives flourish in AmericaSlowed African growth to prevent overpopulationGave women more abilities because of their minority.Allowed people to exercise power and accumulate wealth.In Africa, impact varied: Small-scale societies lacked protection.Gave more diversity in the Americas that is still prevalent today.

Fur Trade in Other Parts of the World-fur trade expanded the Russian Empire; major source of furs for Western Europe, China, and the Ottoman Empire-profit from furs was reason why Russia expanded rapidly across Serbia (where fur bearing animals were abundant)-international sale of furs enriched Russian states as well as private merchants, trappers and hunters-Silver and fur trade intersected in RussiaSiberians:-people because dependent on Russian goods -no competition like in North America accompanied Russian expansion across Serbia- Russian authorities imposed a tax/tribute, payable in furs, on every able-bodied Serbian male between 18-50 years of age

Impact on NativesPros-Indians received copper pots, metal axes, knives, cloth, fire arms and alcohol-goods helped enhance Indian (especially the Huron) -helped show authority of chiefs-Indian role in fur trade helped protect them from enslavement, extermination, or displacement

Cons-damage to environment in North America-near extinction of beavers-British took 500,000 deer every year, diminishing their population-open diseases infected the Indians (influenza, smallpox, etc.)-Conflicts among Native American societies (guns)-Population declines caused "mourning wars", designed to capture people who could be mixed with diminished societies-conflicts between French and British caused Native Americans to take sides

Location:-St. Lawrence Valley, around the Great Lakes, and later down the Mississippi River: French-Hudson River (New York)- Dutch -Hudson Bay Region: British How it worked:-Only a few Europeans directly did trapping and hunting-waited for Indians to bring skins/fur to coastal settlements and trading posts-Europeans traded with a variety of trade goods (guns, blankets, metal tools, rum, and brandy)

Background Information:http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/other-shows/videos/assignment-discovery-shorts-atlantic-slave-trade.htm Began with the voyage of Portuguese mariner Vasco da Gama (1497-1499)The immediate want was for spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, cloves, and pepper.Trade was on the rise as the Black Death was on the out. This opened up room for more trickling trade as more and more nations began to trade openly again.The Portuguese sought to outgun and outmaneuver their competitors due to European trading goods being cruder than Asian goods of elegance.The Portuguese, Spanish, French, Dutch, and British all found their way into Asian trade.Spain established themselves on what was to be the Philippine Islands in an effort to gain leverage in the trade race. This was mainly to challenge the Portuguese grip.The Dutch and English eventually took control of European-Asian trade around the early seventeenth century.The Dutch took control of spice-producing islands and forced the inhabitants to sell only to the Dutch or their crops would be destroyed.The British fell more into the hands of India due to the monopoly the Dutch had created.All of the European trade did not get rid of the Asian merchants.(Arab, Indian Chinese, Javanese, Malay, Cham)-Native Americans grew dependent on European trade goods-crafts were lost because Native Americans started to manufacture their own goods-increased demand for fur resulted in depletion of fur bearing species-introduction to alcohol added more problems-binge drinking- violence among young men-promiscuity-addiction- to enforce payment, the took hostages from Serbian societies -death was a possible outcome if the required furs weren't coming

Far more extensive than the spice tradeSpanish America produced 85% of the worlds silverAs silver production increased, it became one the main methods for tax paymentPotosi was the largest silver mine in the world at this time

In Japan, the Tokugawa shoguns used their wealth in silver to subjugate the surrounding feudal states and gain more landEuropeans were mainly middle-men as they were the main source of transport between the silver refineries (Bolivia) and the silver consumers (China and Japan)The silver trade had the biggest economic effects in China where the cost of manufacture for silk was the cheapest in the world (25 pesos for Chinese silk compared to 200 pesos for Spanish silk)The Spanish alone imported (or really brought home) 581,071,882 ounces of silver during this 147 year Spanish silver boom

Enslavement of mostly African people and the transportation of them to AmericaLasted from 16th to 19th century (1500-1866)First form of globalizationConnected 3 primary continents: Europe, Africa, AmericasLargely based on plantation and agriculture (Males > Females)Steps:

Europe to Western Africa Journey across AtlanticSpread Across AmericaCycle continuesWhere did they come From?Mainly from societies of West Africa: Mauritania and AngolaInitially were focused on Coastal regions but penetrated the interiorMostly were Prisoners of war, criminals, debtors, etc.Majority ended up in Brazil and Caribbean: Labor was more intenseMinority went to North America: Not as intense

Numbers:Estimated 12.5 million Africans were part of the slave trade10.7 of them were spread throughout America and the other 1.8 died on the journey over the AtlanticUp until the 19th century, African people outnumbered the Europeans in America